4th BOOK FAIR(Y) IN ISTRIA
Following Balota's verses: „The life is beautiful only when sacrificed without fear“

7th – 17th December 1998
Forum Square: Gallery Diana, Gallery Cvajner and former space of the bookstore Mladost

Constantly searching for a venue to host it, the Fair returned to the Forum Square and settled in the Gallery Diana, the former space of the legendary bookstore Mladost, and Gallery Cvajner. The circle of literary venues at the ancient square was completed with the quaint, romantic bibliobus that arrived from Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The Fourth Fair was marked by the participation of 137 publishers from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with Taschen, a renowned publisher from Köln. More than 7000 book titles were included in the extensive catalog. The accompanying program of the Fair, becoming more diverse every year, was enriched through the participation of the musician Dario Marušić and choreographer Slavica Šenk. 

Although the year 1998 seemed deadly for Croatian publishing because of the introduction of value added tax, the Fair was visited by more than 40,000 book lovers, while the motto of this edition of the Fair were the verses written by Mate Balota: "The life is beautiful only when sacrificed without fear“.